VALVE HOUSING FOR A VACUUM VALVE

1 . A valve housing for a vacuum valve, comprising opposed valve openings ( 8 , 9 ), which have axes ( 10 , 11 ) and are surrounded by flanges ( 6 , 7 ) of the valve housing, said flanges being connected to housing parts ( 1 , 2 ) of the valve housing, each respective one of the flanges ( 6 , 7 ) having, or being formed by, a sheet metal part ( 12 , 13 ) that surrounds a respective one of the valve openings ( 8 , 9 ), each of the sheet metal parts being formed U-shaped, as viewed in a longitudinal center section through the flange ( 6 , 7 ), parallel to the axis ( 10 , 11 ) of the valve opening ( 8 , 9 ), and being directed via an open side thereof toward a respective one of the housing parts ( 1 , 2 ), and having an inner branch ( 14 ), which annularly surrounds the axis ( 10 , 11 ) of the valve opening ( 8 , 9 ) and is welded or soldered circumferentially to the respective one of the housing parts ( 1 , 2 ) at an end thereof bearing against the housing part ( 1 , 2 ), an outer branch ( 15 ), which has a greater distance from the axis ( 10 , 11 ) of the valve opening ( 8 , 9 ) than the inner branch ( 14 ), and having a base crosspiece ( 16 ) distanced from the respective one of the housing parts ( 1 , 2 ), said base crosspiece connecting the inner and the outer branch ( 14 , 15 ), and the outer branch ( 15 ) annularly surrounds the axis ( 10 , 11 ) of the valve opening ( 8 , 9 ).

2 . The valve housing according to claim 1 , wherein the base crosspiece ( 16 ) annularly surrounds the axis ( 10 , 11 ) of the valve opening, a main plane of said base crosspiece lying in a plane of a ring formed thereby.

3 . The valve housing according to claim 2 , wherein the inner and outer branch ( 14 , 15 ) are aligned parallel to the axis ( 10 , 11 ) of the valve opening ( 8 , 9 ), and the base crosspiece ( 16 ) is arranged at right angles to the axis ( 10 , 11 ) of the valve opening ( 8 , 9 ).

4 . The valve housing according to claim 2 , wherein the base crosspiece ( 16 ) has screw openings ( 17 ) for connection screws ( 18 ) in order to connect the flange ( 6 , 7 ) to a flange ( 20 ) of another vacuum unit.

5 . The valve housing according to claim 4 , wherein the screw openings ( 17 ) are provided with threads, or nuts ( 19 ) are fastened to the base crosspiece ( 16 ).

6 . The valve housing according to claim 2 , wherein the outer branch ( 15 ) of each of the respective sheet metal parts ( 12 , 13 ) is connected at least over part of a circumference thereof to the respective housing part ( 1 , 2 ) at an end face that bears against the respective housing part ( 1 , 2 ) in this part of the circumference of the outer branch.

7 . The valve housing according to claim 1 , wherein, in a view of the valve housing in the direction of the axis ( 10 , 11 ) of one of the valve openings ( 8 , 9 ), the U-shaped sheet metal parts ( 12 , 13 ) protrude over part of a circumference thereof radially outwardly beyond the housing parts ( 1 , 2 ), the outer branch ( 15 ) of the sheet metal parts ( 12 , 13 ) of the two flanges ( 6 , 7 ) butting against one another and being interconnected at least in a partial region of the part of the circumference of the U-shaped sheet metal parts ( 12 , 13 ).

8 . The valve housing according to one claim 1 , wherein a surface of each of the U-shaped sheet metal parts ( 12 , 13 ) delimiting the valve openings ( 8 , 9 ) and pointing toward the axis ( 10 , 11 ) of the valve opening ( 8 , 9 ) is provided in an end region remote from the housing part ( 1 , 2 ) with a recess ( 22 ) running around the valve opening ( 8 , 9 ), said recess having a base, which forms a contact face ( 23 ) for a centering ring ( 24 ), which carries a ring seal ( 25 ).

9 . The valve housing according to claim 1 , wherein the flanges ( 6 , 7 ) are formed as ISO-F flanges or are at least compatible with said ISO-F flanges.

10 . The valve housing according to claim 1 , wherein the housing parts ( 1 , 2 ), to which the flanges ( 6 , 7 ) are connected, are formed from sheet metal and are welded or soldered along a line of contact ( 3 ).

11 . The valve housing according to claim 10 , wherein the interconnected housing parts ( 1 , 2 ) form a main part ( 32 ) of the valve housing, said main part being connected to an extension part ( 28 ) of the valve housing, to which a valve drive part ( 43 a ) is connectable, a seal ( 38 ) being inserted between sealing faces ( 39 , 40 ) of the main part ( 32 ) and of the extension part ( 28 ).

12 . The valve housing according to claim 11 , wherein the sealing faces ( 39 ) of the main part ( 32 ) are formed by narrow-side edges of the sheet metal parts forming the main part ( 32 ).

13 . The valve housing according to claim 11 , wherein the extension part ( 28 ) is formed from sheet metal and the sealing face ( 39 ) of the extension part ( 28 ) is formed by a narrow-side edge of the sheet metal forming the extension part.

14 . A method for producing a valve housing according to claim 1 , comprising deep drawing a flat part made of sheet metal to form each of the U-shaped sheet metal parts ( 12 , 13 ) of a respective flange.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein a surface of the U-shaped sheet metal part ( 12 , 13 ) delimiting the valve opening ( 8 , 9 ) and pointing toward the axis ( 10 , 11 ) of the valve opening ( 8 , 9 ) is machined in a machining step in an end region remote from the housing part ( 1 , 2 ) for forming a recess running around the valve opening ( 8 , 9 ), said recess having a base, which forms a contact face ( 23 ) for a centering ring ( 24 ), which carries a ring seal ( 25 ).